LTGL

Saturday, June 30, 2012

Couldn't we do the Living the Good Life food tracking challenge in a week OTHER than my birthday week?!?!?!?

***End whine***

This is ACTUALLY a very good thing --- I've learned that how you handle the "special" days is really important in developing that "it's-not-a-diet-it's-a-lifestyle" mentality!

I get to choose where my friend Cheryl will take me Thursday evening. It's a 50's-style diner and the menu is online. I'll make my pick beforehand and stick to it. On Saturday, I'm invited to lunch at a Chinese buffet. Gotta refresh my buffet strategy and I should be OK. Otherwise, I have NO excuses this week to not track because my work schedule is relatively light. Of course, I am getting nervous/excited about my upcoming trip to Ireland --- and praying that I'll also be able to make the Florida trip as well.

I was looking for an article or blog post where I read about dealing with special occasions, and "cheat" days but I couldn't find it. I do remember something that said, if we overeat on 30 days a year (birthdays, Christmas, July 4, Super Bowl Sunday, you name it!), it will take us 60-90 days just to maintain our weight. I'm going to try and remember that this week!

Keep drinkin' that water --- it's hot out there (at least here in southern Germany)!!

FRESKA
southern germany?! thats a neat place to be living! i hope you have a great trip to Ireland! never been! Hope you post a few pictures when you get back. you have a great bday and calories dont count on your bday anyway. ;)

SIMPLELIFE4REAL
Interesting blog....perfect timing! I just set my goals for July in a blog and included a cheat meal each week. I'm going to have to figure out what I mean by cheat meal...I think for me, it's going to mean including some sort of processed food that I don't normally eat. However, another of my goals this month is for my total number of calories to be in range for the week. I'm thinking that my meeting my total weekly calorie goal, my "cheat meal" can't be too crazy or pull me too far out of whack!1913 days ago

WALKINGBYFAITH2
Happy Birthday Michelle!!! You will absolutely be able to have a great week and meet your goals! You have achieved so many greater things, that this one will be simple in comparison!

I am drinking lots of water here too. It is hot through much of the US right now, and I am hoping we will see cooler temps soon. I am trying to actually really implement the LTGLs as we go along the challenge this time. Usually I am so focused on the exercise that I just do each one during the week that it is part of the challenge. But I have decided to see if I can put the whole package together by the end of the 8 weeks this time.

Enjoy your birthday celebrations! I thank God for placing you in our midst!1913 days ago

JOANNKW
Zella, for a while I used to just go ahead and either a) eat what I wanted then make it up during the week or b) eat carefully, but w/o concern for the range. I've then done some calculating, and find that I stay pretty much w/in the range either way. It is when I do it all the time - so when my birthday shows up, I'll be eating cake!1914 days ago

TANYA602
Happy Birthday!I do find it interesting that we put food first, and I think I will try to remember this and plan around it in the future. But in the meantime, ENJOY! Celebrate! Live and Love!Ireland?!?! How fun is that!1914 days ago

HAKAPES
I see that somehow in this Western culture of ours, we associate celebration with eating a LOT. Although I think this comes from times when there was war, there was the financial depression, or food was in general scarce, to celebration meant to eat finally on that special day without cravings. But today, every day is a good day food wise.

What I'm doing for myself that I switched my birthday and other special day rewards to other things. Sometimes I just count how much I would spend extra on food, and use it for something else I didn't do before. Books, magazine subscription, watching a movie in the cinema, buying sports equipment, make a trip.

Or if it really has to be food, I go to an expensive restaurant, where good food is about the special taste, and plates are a visual journey.

RUNNERRACHEL
I'm with you there--finally learning not to make excuses for Special Days...and keeping things in moderation. I tracked on my birthday and still enjoyed and went out to eat, just ate smaller portions and kept track of everything. I'm also reworking my buffet strategy! Keep up the great work!

VISUALLYRICS
Happy Birthday to you Michelle ( a tad early ) ... Enjoy the treat of eating out with a friend...I know you will be mindful - what an example YOU are to me! Yes, it IS HOT here in Texas....a whopping 109!